Apparatus for making moving pictures in depth



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v11mm Feb. 25, 193s mw A .f www n L N .PPRTUS IFOR.y MOVING PIQTURES IN vDEPTH-` Nov. 2, 1937. H. SMITH APPARATUS FOR MAKING MQVING PICTURES IN DEPTH 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 File@ Feb. 25, 1936 NNN@ Nov. 2, 1937. H; SMITH 2,097,745

APPARATUS FOR MAKING MOVING' PICTURES IN DEPTH Fned Feb. 25, 19:56- L: szw'cs-srumv s H. SMITH APPARATUS'FO'R' MAKING MOVING vPICTURES 1N DEPTH Nov. 2, 1937.

` 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed Feb. l25, 1936 Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED ASTATT-:s

APPARATUS FOR MAKING MOVING PIC- TUBES IN DEPTH Harry Smith, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of onethird to John H. McCoy, and four per cent to Carmine Morrell, both of Los' Angeles, Calif.

' Application February 25, 1936, Serial No. 65,729

l13 Claims. (Ci. 88-18) .lected as a positive and viewed will present the scene in a condition as it was viewed in its natural form, due to the fact that the oscillatory lens provides for the recording of the scene in a manner to produce the foregoing effect.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to including a reciprocatory lens for picking up the scene to make a negative of the latter for the purpose of recording a substantially continuous panoramic view which in turn, when projected, appears asa solid picture. 2o A further object of the invention is to provide,

in a manner las hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to for producing a life likereproduction of a scene in depth.

A further object of the invention is to provide,

2 ina manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatory lens and with the apparatus having its generating features of a power to pick up the depths of the objects by photography and to record likewise, inasmuch as the lens never comes torest.

30 while the apparatus is in operation a slight elongated photographic conditionis imparted to each exposure to provide for a blending eifect between the exposures during the oscillation of the klens resulting in what appears to the eyes as a solid picture. i

A further object of the invention is to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to including a reciprocatory lens carrier slidablymounted in an adjustable combined carrier guide and holder element capable of oscillating simultaneously with the reciprocating of the carrier and with said carrier and element coacting, in connection with the lens on the carrier, for picking up the depth of the objects by photography and to record likewise.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in-a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus for picking up .the depths of objects by photography and to record likewise.

Further objects of the invention are to provide,

, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact. conveniently operated. thoroughly eiiicient in its use and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

Withl the foregoing and other objects which may hereinafter appeanthe invention consists of w tbe'noveleonstructimcombinationandarrangetus ofthe class referred to including a reciprocaf ment of parts as will be more specifically described and as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a front elevation,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in front `eleva- .tion illustrating the lens carrier in shifted position to the left for taking the left view of the scene,

Figure 5 is an elevation of the top bar of the combined carrier guide and holder structure or element,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the driving means partly in horizontal section,

Figure '7 is a detail view of the anti-friction rollers for the combined carrierguide and holder structure,

Figure 8 is a detail longitudinal section of the micro-angle gage or control unit,

Figure 9 is a section on line 9-'3, Figure 8,

Figure 10 is an enlarged detail section on line II-II, Figure 8,

Figure 11 is a fragmentary view in front elevation illustrating the anti-friction rollers for the lens carrier, and

u Figure l2 is a fragmentary view in vertical sec- The apparatus includes a stationary base i2 provided with a super-structure I3 of slightly greater length but of materially less width than that of base i2. Thesuper-structure I3 has its side'edges spaced equi-distant from the side edges of the base I2. The base I2 is to'be mounted on any suitable support. Anchored to the base i2, adjacenteach side edge thereof, is a pair of "oppositely spaced parallel ,upstanding combined guides, supports and coupling elements il of like form, and each of which consists of an angleshaped pl e formed of a horizontal leg Il and.

a vertical eg Il of less length than that of and merging at its bottom into the top edge of leg il. The inner edges of the legs I5, Il are ush with each other. The leg ii is formed with a transverse notch "opening at the inner edge of the leg. 'Ihe notch I1 forms a guide passage. IThe bottom wall of the notch functions as a support. The top and bottom walls of the notch are for a purpose to be referred to. The notch further functions as a coupler. Anchored to the rear portion of the superstructure il is a vertically disposed rigid postil of the desired height.

Thef apparatus includes a combined lens car`- rier guide and holder structure or element I9 capable of being osciliated and adjusted by means a base plate 20 which is arranged over, spaced from and is of less length than that o! the superstructure I3. The baseplate, inproxlmity to its outer end, is pivotally connected, asat 2|, to

the super-structure i3 and at its rear end is supported between anti-friction rollers 22 adjustably carried by upstandingbrackets 23 xed to the super-structure i3. Fixedly secured to the lower face of the plate 2d, disposed transversely with respect toand extending from each side thereof,

is a combined stabilizer and coupler in the iorm oi'k a rectangular plate 26 which extends through the notches il and couples the structure i9 to x the elements M which,- in turn, couple the structure iii 'to the .base i2. The guide passages formed by the notches il are for the plate 2:43.]

The stops provided by the top and bottom walls of the notches i? act to prevent the vertical 2`0 movement of the plate 2t relative to the elements i. The plate 2! is capable 'of shifting in the notches il, "as on the oscillation of the structure I9 a gyrating movement will be imparted to plate 26 30 spaced relation. The outer end ci plate 25 is connectedto plate 2E?, intermediate the ends of thelatter, by a pair of spaced parallel vertical posts 26. The plate 25, intermediate its ends, is connected tothe rear Qrdirtion ci' plate 2@ by a pair of spaced. parallel vertical posts 2i which align with thetposts A The structure istincludec an opstanding ansieshaped top bar or member 2Q formed of a ver- .tical leg i3@ and a horizontal les 3i extending lo rearwardly from theV lowervend oi the leg titi. A .The leg Si is anchored to the upper face of top plate $25. The outer fece o leg 8i is iiush with the outer end kedge oi plate The les` is formed with e. slot 32 enten lengthwise thereci to provide e, clearance for a purpose to be re= ferred to. Positioned in proximity to each end ci? and at the front oi? leg is an adjustable hearingI structure 38. Thebearlng structures 8S are oi litre form and coact with the les dit to proo vide aligning guide passages for a lens carrier to v be referred to. Each hearing structure $33 in cludes a rectangular vertically disposed plate 3G iced at its lengthwise center with an elongated` slot The plates 8f3 are anchored to the '55 front oi member 2t by the upper and lower pairs of spaced combined holdfast and spacing means 36. AThe plates S6 vextend above and depend below thelee'd. Each plate has adiustabiy connected thereto an upper and a lower bearing 6o means Se in the form oi anti-friction rollers 3l',

38. A'lhe anti-friction roller oi' a hearing structure 33 is aed vbetween a pair ci the combined holdiast and spacing means SS. .The upper and lower anti-friction rollers Si, d further act y as'conners for a lens carrier to he presently refer-red to and are slidably mounted in a 'slot 85 for adjustment. Y'ii'lie plates 376 are provided .with adjusting screws il@ for adjusting the anti-friction rollers. The leg 3@ ci mr 2@ has xedly secured thereto forwardly extending spaced bronze wearing pieces 5d' throughout the top and *M bottom thereof. The plates .Sdi are provided withV and-lower rearwardly extending pairs of spaced bronze adjustable wearing pieces di locked in adjusted position by the screws di. The kade A the vplate 3Q.

'2,097,745 to be referred to. The structure i9 consists of instable anti-friction-rollers, in connection with the wearing pieces 40, Il, take all play in every direction of the lens carrier relative to the structure i9, but at the same time permitting oi' the lens carrier to work'freely.

The structure or element iincludes an upstanding` combined Vbearing and support for a rotatable drive mechanisme :operated from a prime mover, not shown. The combined bearing and support lfis' of inverted U-shape, has its inner side connected to' or is integral with one sideof plate 2t between a post 26 and a post 2l and extends laterally from plate 2o. The outer side of the combined bearing and support 43 is connected to or is integral with one end oi'plate 2d. The m 44 consists of a 'shaft 4B carrying on its outer end a drive pulley le and on its inner end a bevel gear 4l which is spaced inwardly from the inner side of the combined bearing and support 4S. The structure or element i@ also includes an upstanding inverted U-shaped combined bearing and support 48 for an omrating mechanism to be referred to and which is disposed lewise of and connected -to or integral with the plate it. The'combined bearing and support d5 is arranged rearwardly of the forward posts 2t and extends between and rearwardly from the rear posts and is disposed at right angles to the other combined bearing 'and support d8. The plate ES, rerdly of the les il of the member 2Q. is provided with a' transversely extending rectangular' slot 39 for a purpose to be referred to. Secured to the lower face oi the plate 2t is a light shield of a form provided with a rvalole closure/ei at its rear end. The shield et, at its rear end, es a guide roll The shield do. during` the operation ci pro= lectina, constitutes a chute or possess for the nlm. en .o di is mounted in closure position.

The apparatus includes a reciprocatorw iene carrier @d consisting of an elongated narrow plate which constitutes a slide and is mounted eeftween the bearings des and. este tm'ough the guide passages formed between the plates 35i and the member it, that is to say, the les Sii ci the member 29. The plate et, centrally thereof, is formed with an opening Secured to the iront o theplate Sie? and ormed centrally thereof with an openingt! is a'hlcch @Q The operaia-ig,J @l registers with the ope de. Tne'wall or the opening 5i is threluied. The block @El is reduced at each side of its iront and anchored to seid reduced portions are depending legs et, et which extend in close proximity to the upper face ci ed to the outer faces oi the legs te, t@ is a pair of optely disd angle shaped members ti, twhich vhave their upper ends arranged below and spaced from the open ing 5i. Arranged between the members Si, t2, at the upper and lower ends thereohare spacing members E58. The:v Bi and S2 provide a track for a purpose to he referred to. lSecured to and extending outwardly from the mers Gi, e2. near their ends, is a shutter hearing ed. Mounted in the ope 5t, t?? is a lens' 'Ihetubular'emcers ture supports fora .combined aim ginds, i teisnd lmvsate element is which rend, o; is muws, it isf Y ofmown the picture the cover cludes a plate having an aperture of the known dimensions for exposure of the lm. The element 10, as is also well known, includes a guide passage for the downward travel of the illm and a guide passage spaced from the other passage for the upward travel of the film. The element 10, as is also well known, includes resilient means to oifset the inertia of the lm during its intermittent movement. The element 15 also includes a gate for positioning the film to permit of coupling the film to the element 10 after the film is threaded through the return guide passage. which is indicated at 1l, is fed by a sprocket wheel 1 2 of the well known feed device for the lm. The opening referred to as being a part of gear 16 which meshes with and is driven from the gear l1. Carried by the shaft 15, forwardly of the gear 18, is a balance wheel 11. 4The shaft 15 is journaled in the combined bearing and support 48 and extends forwardly and rearwardly therefrom. The shaft 15, forwardly of the balance wheel 11, carries a driving disk 18 for the lens carrier 54. The disk 18 is provided with an eccentrically disposed stud 18,l upon which is loosely mounted a' slide 55 dwhich travels in thetrack formed by the legs 8 l, 52 for the purpose of reciprocating the lens carrier within the structure i5. The slide 80 is confined on the vstud 1.9 by the retaining means 8i having threaded engagement with the Stud.

The rear end of shaft 15 carries a yoke-shaped member 82 formed with an opening 8l and a hub 5I. The opening Il and hub 5I' provide for the mounting of the member I2 on shaft 15. The

member 82 is rigidly xed to the shaft 15. 'Ihe side of member B2 is formed withan opening of the member have fixed thereto guide rails 8l for the slide bearing l5. The latter is formed with an opening 92 into which extends a stud l! fixed to a sleeve 94 slidably mounted on the post i5 and capable of a vertical and a horizontal movement. The stud Il also constitutes a support for the shaft 15 and upon which the member 52 revolves. 'I'he member 52 and the parts thereof constitute a micrometer angle gage for the purpose of angularly shifting the operating mechanism 1I which in turn will angularly adjust the supporting structure I9 to provide for the oscillating of the latter when the operating mechanism is active and when the latter will impart a reciprocatory motion to the lens carriersimultaneously with the oscillating of the structure i 5. The member 82 is provided with suitable graduations, as indicated at 95 and 85. The graduations 91 upon plate 25 are for focal determinations.

A suitable bellows, not shown, encloses the apparatus and acts as a light shield. Y v Secured to the forward face of the leg 35 o the member 29 is a strip of felt 9 8* which constitutes a light trap.

The nlm.'

Mounted on the shutter bearing is a shutter mechanism IIIII of any suitable type and its operating means is such as to bein perfect time with respect to the other elements in the machine. The shutter construction and operating means is of known form. The operating means for the shutter is such that willpermit of the shutter being bodily carried with -the lens slide and its connection may. bein the form ofthe ordinary flexible shaft.

The operation of the lens carrier is such that it provides for the lens picking up the scene to make a negative of the latter for the purpose of recording a substantially continuous panoramic view which in turn, when projected, appears as a s olid picture.

The operation of the lens, in the manner as referred to, produces a lifelike reproduction of a scene in depth. I

The apparatus provides for vpicking up the depth of objects by photography andl to record likewise, due to the reciprocation of'the lens and inasmuchas the lens never comes to'rest, while theapparatus is in operationf'a slight elongated photographic condition .is imparted'tov each exposure to provide for a-blending eifect between the exposures duringoscillation of the lens resulting in what.app'ears to the eyes, when the pcsitive is projected. as a solid picture.

The operating mechanism 1,4 operates the lens carrier in a distance equalto the average space between the human eyes. 'IJhe rotating of the driving disk 1l causes the lens carrier to move to five equi-distance positions during its cycle of travel. :This cycle is'accomplished in oneeighth of a second and there are five pictures taken in that period and all ilve pictures are presented to the eyes within the range of persistency of vision causing the entire field of vision to be -presented to the eyes. The micrometer angle control 52 works in perfect relation with the lens slide keeping the lens in conjunction with the subjects at all times during the cycle of travel. It is not necessary for the lens to come to rest at any time during the photographic exposure. As the lens slides from position to position the angle of inward tilt is established by the fact that the structure Il, operating mechanism, drive mechanism and lens carrier bodily tilt together in unison due to the fact that structure is is pivoted to the base and carries the driving and operating mechanisms, the micrometer control and the lens carrier. As was before stated, the tilting of the structure I5, operating mechanism, driving mechanism and lens carrier is had due to the medium of micrometer control. Irrespective of the position of the structure isor the movement of such structure the lens carrier reciprocates thex'ein. When the micrometer control is in the position marked "zero the structure I9 is stationary, but when any eccentric movementV is applied to the control unit the amount is registered in degrees or fractions thereof on said structure and the assembly mounted thereon. The element 15 carries the film during the reciprocation of the lens carrier. The nlm is fed downwardly at the rear of the eiement 10 and then upwardly through said element 1l forwardly of the stretch of the film that is being fed downwardly and the downwardly moving stretches of the film are protected againstlight rays to prevent any action of light on such stretches when the upwardly moving stretches are exposed. The intermittent movement oi' the 75 film is accomplished by any conventional oi' mechanism for such purpose.

What I claim is: 1. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a base structure, a holder structure arranged over said base structure including a lens carrier guide 'at its front, a lens carrier mounted in said guide, means for pivotally connecting said holder structure to said base structure, said structures ably connecting the holder structure to the base structure intermediate the ends of the latter. a

driving mechanism. an operating shaft journaled in said holder structure lengthwise of the latter and driven from said mechanism, said shefft and carrier havin coacting inter-engaging parts for reciprocating the carrier on the operation of'said sliait, a vertically and horizontally movable element mounted over the base structure and formed with a stud, an adjustable gage structure permanently encompassing and revoluble about said stud, bodily carried by said shai't and including an adjustable part' providing when adjusted for bodily carrying said element therewith, to angularly position the holder structure relative to the base structure and to provide for the oscillating of the holder structure simultaneously with' the reciprocation of the carrier.

2. In'an apparatus for the purpose' set forth, a basestructure, a holder structure extending upwardly from said base structure and including a lens carrier guide at its front. means for pivotally connecting said structures together ada-- .it the fronts thereof, said structures having coast meansfor slidably connecting the holder structure to thebase structure, the said coacting means being arranged reardiy of said pivotal connecting means, e lens carrier slidably mounted in said guide, and an operating mechanism journaled in said structure, said mechanism and carrier-having coasting parte to provide for the reciprocation of said carrier on the operation of said mechanism.

3. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth.

upwardiyifrom said base structure and including a lens carrier guide at its front, means for pivotally connecting said structures together adjacent the fronts thereof, said structures having coacting means for slidably connecting the holder structure to the .basestructura the said coacting 'l means being arranged rearwardly of said pivotal l a base'structure, a *holder structure extending 65 upwardly from said base stumme and including a lens carrier guide at its front, means for pivotally connecting said structures together adjacent theironts' "thereof, vsaid structures having coactnaled in said structure, said mechanism and,car^

ing means for slidably connecting the holder structure to the base structure. the said coacting means being arranged rearwardly of saidpivotal connecting means, a lens carrier slidably mounted in said guide, an operating mechanism jourrior having coacting pai-h toprovide for re` having coasting inter-engg means for slid-Y a base structure, a holder structure extendingcation of a. lens carrier.

Y:sionistes ciprocation oi said carrier on the operation o! said mechanism, a post on the rear portion oi said base structure, a revoluble and vertically vmovable element on said post, said operating Amechanism and saidelement having'coacting parts to provide for angularly positioning-.the holder structin-e relative to the base structure to cause the Yoscillating of the holder structure simultaneously with the reciprocation o the lens carrier. A Y

5. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, e. base structure, a holder structure arranged over the base structure and including a lens carrier guide, a reciprocatory lens carrier mounted in said guide, means for'plvotally connecting said struetures together, said structures provided with coasting inter-engaging vmeans intermediate 'their structure to .cause the oscillation of the holder' structure simultaneously with the reciprccation othelens. i

' 6. In an apptus for the purpose set forth,

a hase structure, a holder structure arranged over` the base structure and provided with a lens carrier guide, a horizontally disposed reciprosatory lens carrier siidably mounted in said guide, means for pivotally connecting the iront end of the holder structure upon said base structure, a combined stabilizer and coupler xedito the holder structure and slidably mounted in the sides of said base structure below said holder structure, an operating mechanism for reciprocating said carrier, said mechanism journaled in the holder structure, and coacting adjustable means sun-A ported from th'e base structure and said mechanism to provide when adjusted the angularly positioning of the holder structure relative to the base structure to cause the oscillating of the holder structure simultaneously with the recipro- 7. In an apparatus for the purpose setrforth; a base structure, a holder structure arranged above said base structure, means for pivotally supporting the iront end of the holder structure over the front end oi the base structure, said holder structure being formed at its front with a lens carrier guide, a horizontally disposed reciprocatory lens carrier slidably mounted in said guide, an'operating mechanism journaled in said holder structure, saidmechanism and carrier having vcoacting inter-engaging means to provide for the reciprocation of the carrier on the operationof said mechanism, a driving m for said operating mechanism carried by said holder structure, a combined stabilizer and coupler ixed' to the rlower face of said holder structure and slidably engaging ln the sides'oi' said base struc' ture intermediate the ends o! the latter, a ver-` tically and horizontally adjustableV element, mounting means carried by the base structure for said element, and an adjustable'gage struc# turebodily carried with said operating mechawardly from the base structure and including a lens carrier guide at its front, means for pivotally supporting the front end of the holder structure upon the front end .of the base structure, said base structure and holder structure having coacting, inter-engaging means slidably coupling the holder structure to the base structure intermediate the front and rear ends of the latter and rearwardly of said pivot means, a lens carrier slidably mounted in said guide, an operating mechanism journaled in said holder structure, said carrier and said mechanism having coacting, inter-engaging parts for reciprocating the carrier on the operation of said mechanism, :a drivin g mechanism carried by the holder structure for said operating mechanism, an adjustable gage structure carried by saidoperating mechanism and including an adjustable part provided when adjusted to angularly adjust said holder structure on said base structure whereby said operating mechanism will provide for the oscillating of the holder structure simultaneously with the reciprocation of a lens carrier, a vertically and horizontally adjustable support provided intermediate its ends with a part extending into andupon which the adjustable part of the gage structure revolves, and a post carried by the base structure and extending through said vertically and horizontally adjustable support.

9. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, an angularly adjustable combined lens guide and holder structure, a reciprocatory lens carrier slidably mounted in and bodily carried by said structure for disposing it atan angle corresponding to that of said structure when the latter is angularly adjusted, a driven shaft journaled lengthwise of said structure and arranged below said carrier, said shaft at one end and said carrier intermediate its ends having coacting means for reciprocating the carrier on the operation of the shaft, a micrometer angle control unit fixed to the other end of said shaft including an eccentrically adjustable .slide bearing to provide when adjusted the oscillation of said structure simultaneously with the reciprocation of said carrier, a vertically and horizontally movable element including a stud extending into, bodily carried by and upon which said bearing revolves, and a mounting for said element arranged adjacent to said structure.

10. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, an angularly adjiutable combined lens guide and holder structure, a reciprocatory lens carrier slidably mounted in and bodily carried'by said structure for disposing it at an angle correspondingtothatofsaidstructurewhenthelatteris angularly adjusted, a driven shaft journaled lengthwise of said struchxre and arranged below jdructure.

. aligning with said opening, means for continuvcouplingtlmstructuretoths 11. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, a shiftable means for a record receiving means, a horizontally disposed reciprocatory slide constituting a lens carrier arranged forwardly of portions of the record receiving means and having an opening centrally thereof to intermittently expose portions of the latter, a lens ilxedly secured with the front of said carrier and aligning with said opening, means for continuously reciprocating said carrier across said receiving means whereby said lens will coact with said receiving means to have recorded on the latter a record of a substantially continuous picture, in depth, of an object and which record, when projected, will appear as a substantially solid picture in depth, a supporting structure common to the said shifting means and carrier, means for reciprocating the latter, and means coasting with the means for reciprocating the carrier to provide the oscillating of said structure simultaneously with the reciprocation of the carrier and the shifting of the record receiving means.

12. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth, an upstanding holder structure having the upper portion of its front provided with a carrier suspension, a lens carrier in the form of a slide shiftably mounted in said suspension and bodily carried with said structure, driven means journaled in said structure and eccentrically connegated at its outer end with and for reciprocating said carrier in a distance substantially equal to the average space between the human eyes and to five equi-distant positions during the cycle of operation, a base structure to which the holder structure .is slidably mounted and pivoted to, a vertically adjustable revolubly mounted element formed with a lateral bearing, said driven means including as a part thereof a micrometer angle control element at its rear end coactingwith said element for tilting said holder structure to cause the oscillation of the latter simultaneously with the reciprocation of the carrier, and said control forming a part of said driven means including a vertically adjustable part revolubly suspended on said bearing and when adjusted carrying said element therewith.

13. In an apparatus for the purpose set forth,

' a shiftable means for a record receiving means, a

horizontally disposed reciprocatory slide constituting a lens carrier arranged forwardly of the said record receiving means and having an opening centrally thereof to intermittently expose portions of the record receiving means, a lens flxedly secured with the front of the slide and ously reciprocating said slide across said record receiving means whereby the lens will coact with the said record receiving means to have recorded on the latter a record of a substantially continuous picture, in depth, of an object in depth and which record, whenprojected, will appear as a substantially solid picture in depth, a supporting structure common to and bodily carrying therewith said shiftable means, said record receiving means. said slide and theV means for reciprocating the slide, means counting with the means for recipro catingtheslidetoprovidefortheoseillatingof said structure dmultaneously with the reciprocation'of the slide. a base, means feml vnvotally connectingsaidstructuretothebasasndssidstm' ture and bose lnvlng coltingmmeanl for slidahly 

